Thank You, Thank You Very Much

Yes they did! The most sought-after demo cars are the 1973-76 5mph bumper cars. You drill a hole in the bumper shocks to drain out the fluid, then weld them solid, thus making a stock battering ram on each end. I ran a 1973 Pontiac wagon in a demo derby about 20 years ago (first and last time). I was then unaware of all of the tricks-of-the-trade back then (such as the bumper shock trick discussed above, or tubing all of the tires, or welding the differential spider gears to achieve a solid rear axle, etc) so it didn't do too well. From what I have been told by demo drivers, the 1975 Caprice/Impala 2-door is one of the best GM cars for this purpose, but they are getting much harder to find. Second best are the full-size Mopar cars with the leaf-springed rear end. Final secret demo derby trick revealed here: place cuts in the top of the frame just behind the rear axle such that it causes the rear end to bend upward when hit. On the Mopar cars, you would see the entire trunk bent upward so far that it blocked any visibility out the rear window, with the leaf springs still holding on!

@redmondjp Yes and no ~ Co$t is always an issue so many were converted from Fleetwood chassis . Many were designed and built as " Combination Rigs " for smaller Townships who'd use the Ambulance as a hearse too . As far as Chrysler wagons , they made them in different chassis , the Sattelites were smaller & sportier , my old '69 Chrysler wagon 8 passenger was a BEAST . For the economy minded , the Darts were also sold in wagon format , this was the "A' body Mopar (I think) . -Nate